Air Monitoring

Air Quality Forecast

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​​​Air quality forecasts provided by the Department of the Environment are available through a variety of online resources such as
AirNow,
Clean Air Partners,
National Weather Service, and here on the Department's website.
Real-time air quality information can be found using these resources in addition to the
Current Air Quality Conditions Map.
Air quality notifications can also be sent to your inbox by signing up for
AirNow's EnviroFlash.
If you have a smartphone, the
Clean Air Partners
and AirNow
apps deliver real-time air quality conditions and forecasts.

What actions should be taken when poor air quality episodes are forecasted?
The Air Quality Action Guide
can help you choose appropriate actions to reduce your exposure to pollution and to actively participate in minimizing air pollution levels.
Remember to do your share for cleaner air!

History of the Department's Air Quality Forecasting Program

In 2001, the Department of the Environment, Baltimore Metropolitan Council, and regional authorities MWCOG, VADEQ, and Washington DC Department of Health launched an air quality outreach website called "Air-Watch". Air-Watch provided the public with easy access to local and national air quality information by educating citizens about potential health risks related to air pollution. Furthermore, it strived to develop awareness and encourage public participation in finding solutions to air pollution. In 2007, Air-Watch became Clean Air Partners. For more history of the Department's Air Quality Forecasting Program, see the timeline provided below.

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2015

EPA revises the ozone 8-hour average health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and its AQI, effective December 2015.

Air quality forecast discussions are now provided for the Metropolitan Baltimore, Western Maryland, and Eastern Shore regions.

2008

The Department partners up with AirNow's EnviroFlash air quality notification program to increase dissemination of air quality forecasts and current air quality conditions to the public. Users can receive notifications via email or text message.

EPA revises the ozone health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and its AQI, effective May 2008.

2007

Air-Watch is combined and migrated into the improved Clean Air Partners website. Air quality forecasts, notifications, and air quality information are available through the Clean Air Partners website.

2006

The Department expands the air quality forecasting program to the Eastern Shore. The 3-day air quality forecasts are now available state-wide and year-round for the 4 regions: Metropolitan Baltimore, Metropolitan Washington, Western Maryland, and Eastern Shore.

2005

Air quality forecasting program expands operations to include 3-day air quality forecasts year-round. The Department also adds the Western Maryland region to the program. The 3-day air quality forecasts are now available for 3 regions: Metropolitan Baltimore, Metropolitan Washington, and Western Maryland. Additionally, forecast discussions are made available for the Metropolitan Baltimore region.

2004

Summer ozone forecasting program expands to include year-round fine particle pollution and is renamed the Air Quality Forecasting Program. Daily air quality forecasts are now available year-round. Ozone Action Day is changed to Air Quality Action Day reflecting the multi-pollutant emphasis.

Regional authorities in the Baltimore and Washington DC metropolitan areas launch an air quality outreach website called "Air-Watch" to provide the public with easy access to air quality information, education about potential health risks related to air pollution, and to raise awareness while encouraging the public to actively participate in finding solutions to air pollution.

1998

EPA adopts the color-coded forecasting method, originally developed by the Department and the American Lung Association, as part of the federal Air Quality Index (AQI) to present air quality information and forecasts to the public.

Ozone Action Day program begins through the ENDZONE partnership to promote voluntary actions to reduce air pollution and protect public health.

1995

The Department takes on the primary role in air quality forecasting for Maryland. A regional collaboration is established between the Department, MWCOG, and VADEQ to expand the ozone forecasting program to include both the Baltimore and Washington DC metropolitan areas. Based on this regional collaboration, the "ENDZONE", for End Ozone, partnership is formed.